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Pope Benedict XVI begins a trip to Mexico and Cuba today, but Mexicans searching for information about his visit may find Anonymous standing in the way. The Mexican branch of the hacking collective has crashed at least two websites for the papal visit, claiming that the visit is a political ploy to win support for the conservative National Action party ahead of the July 1 presidential election, the AP reports. The hackers released a video saying the visit is costing Mexicans money that should be spent on the poor.

In Rome, the pope was seen using a cane in public for the first time as he boarded his flight to Mexico this morning. This is his first visit to the country and he is widely expected to address its brutal drug war, NPR reports. In the city of Guanajuato, his first stop, the local archbishop has urged people not to fear drug violence during the visit. An offshoot of the La Familia cartel hung welcome banners displaying a friendly message: It won't attack rivals while the pontiff is in town.

Great job Anonymous! Another effective employment of your collective skills to vandalize a website related to a relatively harmless figure. I mean its not like the Pope was out murdering tens of thousands, corrupting law enforcement, and sending Mexico straight to third world status. Im sure if there were groups that existed like that, you'd be targeting them instead, right?

opheliaglass

Mar 23, 2012 8:57 AM CDT

"It won't attack rivals while the pontiff is in town." So of all things a drug cartel respects, it's religion.... Gag...